Accident
The flight departed Nerchinsk for Gazimurski Zavod, cruising at an altitude of 1,900 meters in marginal weather conditions. During the approach to Gazimurski Zavod, the crew descended into clouds while facing a mountain. Engine power was added, but the airplane struck tree tops in a flat attitude and crashed in a wooded area on the slope of a mountain 1,256 meters high, located about 12 kilometers southeast of Gazimurski Zavod. Five passengers were injured, and 10 other occupants were killed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the accident was the consequence of the pilot's decision to continue the descent under VFR mode in clouds and below minimum visibility. The following contributing factors were reported: poor flight preparation, lack of crew coordination, wrong altimeter setting by the copilot, and lack of assistance from weather services.